Areni-1 winery

The Areni-1 winery, located in the Areni-1 cave complex in Armenia, is an extraordinary archaeological site that dates back to around 4100 BCE, during the Late Chalcolithic period. This site, discovered in 2007, provides significant insights into early wine production and consumption practices. Notable features of the site include fermentation vats, a wine press, and storage jars, all indicative of a sophisticated winemaking process. Organic remains such as grape seeds and desiccated vines, along with artifacts like drinking cups found near ancient graves, suggest that the site may have also been used for funeral ceremonies and ritualistic practices. The discovery of the Areni-1 winery sheds light on the early domestication of grapes and the region's potential involvement in trade, possibly linked to the Kura-Araxes culture. The preservation of organic materials was facilitated by sheep dung, which protected them from fungal decay.